Three years ago, Keith Smith, MD, co-founder and managing partner of the Surgery Center of Oklahoma, posted a list of prices for 112 common surgical procedures performed at the surgery center, according to a Reason.com report.

Dr. Smith and his business partner Steve Lantier, MD, founded the surgery center 15 years ago after they became disillusioned with the treatment provided at the nearby St. Anthony Hospital in Oklahoma City, where the two physicians practiced anesthesiology.

The surgery center's consumer-driven model could become popular as Americans look for alternatives to inpatient healthcare, which generally costs much more than outpatient care. The surgery center has demonstrated that it can offer high-quality care at a lower price than the local hospital. In part, this is due to the absence of expensive administrative employees, which can contribute to high payrolls at hospitals.